As a boyhood West Ham fan who used to play for Chelsea, Jimmy Smith admits he
couldn’t help but laugh when Obafemi Martins scored Birmingham’s farcical
late winner to defeat Arsenal in Sunday’s Carling Cup final.

Laugh: Leyton Orient midfielder Jimmy Smith admits he laughed when Arsenal lost the Carling Cup final to BirminghamPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

And now the Leyton Orient midfielder has set his sights on deepening the gloom at the Emirates by shocking the Premier League giants in Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth-round replay.

The 24 year-old spent 14 years at Stamford Bridge, making one professional appearance before moving to Orient two years ago.

He is now an integral part of a side that has lost just once in 22 games, and knows he could make himself hugely popular in both east and west London if he emulates Martins by knocking Arsenal out of another cup competition.

“As a West Ham fan I was brought up to dislike Arsenal a little bit,” said Smith. “And I laughed when Birmingham scored the winner.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have as they will be a bit angry and will want to take it out on us, but we will be ready for it.

“And I’ve had a few of my mates who used to be in the Chelsea academy with me, sending me texts asking us to do them.”

And Smith is adamant that the result is not a foregone conclusion as his side look to repeat their heroics from the 1-1 draw 10 days ago.

He added: “A lot of people felt they would win comfortably against Birmingham, and against us they are the favourites again, but on the night things could cock up for them.

“Arsène Wenger will want a reaction from his squad from the fnal and they will be a bit down because they haven’t won a cup for ages - hopefully we can knock them out of another one.

“They are world-class players, they are internationals, but that doesn’t phase us one bit. Whoever wants it more will win the game.”

Orient manager Russell Slade is likely to have to do without captain Stephen Dawson due to knee ligament damage, while the hero of the first tie, Jonathan Tehoue, should be on the bench after recovering from a migraine. Jason Crowe should be fit to replace Dawson, but Matthew Spring is injured and Harry Kane is suspended.